On Kawara: Journals : 1966-1970

On Kawara: Journals, 19661970 presents complete facsimiles of the first five journals that the artist made alongside his renowned Today series, offering an unprecedented view into the method and complexity behind the artists Date Paintings.

On Kawara began his signature Today seriesalso known as the Date Paintingsin 1966. Through a disciplined and structured approach, Kawara transformed the ordinary fact of a date into a profound message, addressing not only the passage of time but the nature of consciousness itself. The artist meticulously documented the full series in corresponding Journals assembled at the close of each year, the first five of which are reproduced for the first time as full facsimiles in On Kawara: Journals, 19661970.

The artists Journals function as both an archive of and a companion to the Date Paintings. They document the color and format of each painting, log corresponding subtitles, and include photography that Kawara chose to represent that years production. They reveal the daily decisions and systems that shaped the series from its inception. Together, the Journals provide singular insight into one of the most influential bodies of work in conceptual art.

Published on the occasion of a 2027 exhibition at David Zwirner, New York, On Kawara: Journals, 19661970 includes an introduction by Anne Wheeler, from the artists One Million Years Foundation, which situates the Journals within the broader significance of the Today series. This publication reveals a rarely seen dimension of this acclaimed body of work, foregrounding the artists intricate and exacting process.